GRE Importance

[CSallday]

So I don't seem to be that good of a test taker, no matter how much I practice. I have taken tons of GRE practice tests throughout the past year, and taken the official GRE twice. My scores are 163Q/161V/4.5 and 164Q/159V/4.5. It seems that no matter what I do, my scores do not substantially improve.

 

I am planning to apply to top-15 CS PhD programs. I have plenty of research experience, a high GPA, and will have solid rec letters. Are these relatively low GRE scores detrimental to my application? Do they significantly reduce my chances of admission at all? 

[bsharpe269]

Those are decent scores. Do you know the averages of the departments that youre applying to? My guess is that those scores fall into the 'wont hurt you or help you' range. If the rest of your application is suitable for a top 15 program then I wouldnt worry about those scores at all.

[DeleteMePlease]

Don't worry the scores a good enough

 

 

(Gosh, we should pin this info to the top of the Forum. Everybody is freaking out over GRE scores...)

Edited May 18, 2014 by GermanStudent

[cicada2014]

GRE doesn't matter as long as your Q is above ~90th percentile. You're right at the cusp. I think you will be fine

[DeleteMePlease]

GRE doesn't matter as long as your Q is above ~90th percentile. You're right at the cusp. I think you will be fine

 

I agree that AW part is pretty useless, but I think the verbal section has some weight in the application too. Also some schools post minimum scores you have to meet to be considered.

 

But anything above 70 in the Verbal and 90 in the Quantitative part should be enough imo....

Edited May 21, 2014 by GermanStudent

[cicada2014]

Yep. I actually talked to admissions faculty at a top school and he said that they pretty much don't look at GRE at all. The only red flag might be if you are an international student with exceedingly low verbal score. But even then, they give the benefit of the doubt and will actually try to talk to you in person to gauge your english ability.

[Icydubloon]

Ivy leagues care about the verbal and writing more than non-ivies.

[DeleteMePlease]

Ivy leagues care about the verbal and writing more than non-ivies.

 

I really don't think writing has any weight in CS. I only got 3.5 (~40 percentile) in AW and was accepted in an Ivy League school.

 

 

Also, a fun (and strange) fact about the AW part. I took the GRE twice and got the exact same questions...

Edited May 27, 2014 by GermanStudent

[Icydubloon]

I really don't think writing has any weight in CS. I only got 3.5 (~40 percentile) in AW and was accepted in an Ivy League school.

Also, a fun (and strange) fact about the AW part. I took the GRE twice and got the exact same questions...

The CS departments generally don't care about verbal/writing. From what I've heard and seen, the ivy league graduate school cares more about the GRE and imposes a higher cutoff than the actual department you're applying to.

As for your 3.5, well, there are always exceptions

Edited May 27, 2014 by Icydubloon